Open Labs

Launching during National Science Week (15-24 March), Open Labs is the start of a three-year programme during which hundreds of school children will tour research facilities, meet scientists and veterinarians, andsee the animals at the centre of the research.

UCL is the first facility to open its doors to students with a further eight universities and research centres*taking part over the course of Science Week.

Open Labs has been developed by Understanding Animal Research in collaboration with these nine leadingscience centres across the UK. While Understanding Animal Research already conduct over 300 schoolstalks every year, this is the first coordinated national effort to allow children to see first-hand what happens inresearch facilities, and help them to make up their own minds about this controversial yet important subject.

Adrian Deeny, Director Biological Services said:

“Animals are used in medical research to better understand the cause of disease and to test new forms oftherapy. A visit to a lab is the best way for young people to see how animal research is conducted at UCL andhow it improves our understanding of human diseases.”

Wendy Jarrett, CEO of Understanding Animal Research said:

“Many young people’s ideas of what animal research involves do not match up with the facts. There is nobetter way of understanding the realities of why and how animals are used in research in this country thanseeing the animals for oneself and talking to the staff who look after them. We hope this project will helpyoung people across the country to make up their own minds about animal research, based on their ownexperience of an animal house.”